Supervising Attorney, Education Law Clinic

Job description

Position: Supervising Attorney, Education Law Clinic
Department: Norman A. Wiggins School of Law
Status: Full-Time
Position Summary:
Campbell University School of Law seeks a dynamic and collaborative Supervising Attorney to join its Education Law Clinic.
Campbell Law’s Education Law Clinic offers free legal representation to low-income, at-risk children seeking to protect and/or restore their educational rights. Most Clinic cases involve special education, school discipline, and similar education-related matters. The Education Law Clinic offers this representation in connection with an upper-level law-school course through which law students authorized under the student practice rules represent Clinic clients with the instruction and supervision of the Clinic Director or Supervising Attorney.
The Supervising Attorney will work closely with the Clinic’s Director and will supervise and manage certified law students in performing legal work for Clinic clients. The term of the initial appointment for the Supervising Attorney is one year, with the possibility for renewal in subsequent one-year contracts.
The Supervising Attorney will collaborate with the Director to co-teach Education Law Clinic courses (both foundational and advanced). The Supervising Attorney will also serve as a primary attorney for Clinic client matters, manage case and litigation strategy, maintain client files both electronically and, when necessary, in hard copy, supervise and mentor Clinic students, research strategic ideas to support client objectives, update Clinic templates as necessary, handle administrative and office-management matters, perform administrative and office-management tasks, enhance relationships with Clinic partners, and promote the Clinic and its work. Although Clinic students will be expected to take the lead in work on behalf of Clinic clients throughout the academic term, including in witness interviews, meetings, mediations, court appearances, etc., the Supervising Attorney will be present in an advisory role. The Supervising Attorney will also provide direct legal services to Clinic clients when a certified law student is unable to complete legal work during the an academic term or through the summer.
The Supervising Attorney will further serve to build and foster collaborative relationships referral sources, develop and modify Clinic forms and protocols, and from time to time collaborate with the Clinic Director in making presentations on the Clinic’s work.
If time and interest allow, the Supervising Attorney may also work with the Director to develop new course proposals and create opportunities to teach additional subjects related to the work of the Clinic as an adjunct faculty member and to conduct and publish scholarly research.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
• Serve as a Supervising Attorney at Campbell University School of Law performing work in education-related matters.
• Manage litigation in matters undertaken by the Education Law Clinic.
• Co-teach Education Law Clinic courses (both introductory and advanced) with the Director.
• Supervise law student work, including the work of law students certified under the student practice rules to perform legal work for clients, and meet regularly with students.
• Assist with and/or lead client communication and representation.
• Provided extended legal services independently when a certified law student is unable to complete legal work during the semester.
• Collaborate with the Director to develop and implement both litigation and non-litigation activities and resources for the Clinic, including Clinic guidelines, internal policies, forms, protocols and procedures.
• Attend court appearances, mediations, client meetings, administrative procedures / meetings, etc., with students in an advisory role and independently when necessary.
• Interview clients, provide legal information and legal advice, provide brief legal services (e.g., draft short legal documents for pro se filing and other usage).
• Research and analyze legal issues related to client matters and for scholarly development.
• Foster and expand collaborative relationships with the Clinic’s primary sources for Client referrals.
• Create and periodically modify Clinic forms.
• Assist in developing and making internal and external presentations related to the Clinic’s work.
• Remain ready to realize the possibility to develop and teach law-school courses on legal subjects related to the work of the Clinic and of interest to the Supervising Attorney.
• Develop and provide content for social media accounts and the Clinic website.
• Perform work with passion for education justice and for the goals of the Clinic with a commitment to maintain a positive attitude and to having fun in a collaborative, energetic, and collegial environment.
• Maintain effective and timely communication with the Director and students at all times.
• Participate in departmental, faculty, and staff meetings as requested.
• Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor at all times.
• Respond to phone calls and email requests from individuals seeking Clinic representation, manage client intake by evaluating prospective Clinic clients through eligibility screening, conduct conflict checks, and engage in similar office administration tasks.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor Client files in Clio and in hard copy.
• Take responsibility for office management and administrative tasks.
• Maintain and order office supplies and assist in managing the Clinic budget.
• Uphold and abide by Campbell University policies and procedures and federal and state mandates, including but not limited to Title IX, and Information Security, FERPA, the North Carolina Rules of Professional Responsibility, and other similar legal mandates.
• Perform other job-related duties, recognizing that responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Required Education/Experience:
• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• N.C. bar license or the eligibility and expressed willingness to secure one through comity or UBE Transfer.
• A minimum of two years of practice experience, with a preference for candidates with litigation experience in education-related or special-education matters.
• Demonstrated knowledge of or experience with special education and civil rights law.
• A record of or demonstrated potential for clinical teaching, advocacy, and intellectual engagement, as well as an enthusiastic commitment to working closely with students.

Preferred Experience:
• Five or more years of practice experience, with a preference for candidates with litigation experience in education-related or special-education matters.
• Demonstrated knowledge of or experience with special education and civil rights law.
• Experience teaching adults in a legal setting.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills and an ability to communicate and connect effectively with individuals from diverse backgrounds.
• Have strong interpersonal, organizational, and time-management skills.
• Have excellent research, problem-solving, analytical, and writing skills.
• Possess excellent leadership and supervisory skills.
• Be detail-oriented and exceptionally organized.
• Be technologically savvy with excellent skills in utilizing traditional office software as well as the ability to learn and utilize new and emerging technology.
• Work independently with initiative and self-direction in order to accomplish the goals and purposes of the Clinic.
• Exhibit professionalism, civility, creativity, and organization in the conduct of duties.
• Demonstrate skill in teaching and mentoring students.
• Demonstrate tact, a positive attitude, courtesy and discretion in dealing with trustees, faculty, staff, students, high-level university officials, clients, people of all ages, including children, and the public.
• Work independently as well as function effectively in a team and within a diverse group of people.
• Exercise good judgment in complex, new, and/or stressful situations.
• Manage multiple, concurrent projects, and meet deadlines with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Show adaptability, flexibility and a willingness to work in a fast-paced, changing environment.
• Have an ability to work on evenings or weekends as necessary and occasionally to travel with reliable transportation to hearings and/or meetings.
• This position demands accuracy, honesty, integrity and the ability to work within the Christian mission of Campbell University.